Automatic matrix cleaner



July 5, 1949. J GUNDERMAN, 5 2,475,494

AUTOMATIC MATRIX CLEANER Filed June 8, 1945 A V 26 A INVENTOR v 4041/ MM 54M ATTORNEYS Patented July 5, 1949 UNITED STATES *GFF-IE 2,475,494 AUTOMATIC MATRIX CLEANER John F. Gunderman, Sn, BufialmN. Y.

Application June 8, 1945, Serial No. 598,311

3 Claims.

This invention relates to line casting machines of the type in which type matrices that are carried in classified pockets of a magazine, are selectively assembled in a line at a time by selective operation of a keyboard, and then a slug is cast from the assembled line through indicia recesses on corresponding sides of the matrices. The slugs may be then used for printing, and the matrices of the line are returned to their respective pockets of the magazine so as to be used over and over. These machines are well known in-the art and extensively used in printing plants.

As the matrices are released in a selected order from their respective pockets or chambers of the magazine, they are assembled in the order of release, side by side in a line in what is known as an assembly element near the keyboard where the reference faces of the matrices are visible to the operator, so that they can be inspected for errors. Each matrix has, on one edge known as the casting edge, recesses representing type indicia, and in the opposite edge a reference indicia which corresponds to the indicia of the recesses in the casting edge, so that the operator may, by reading the reference indicia in the assembled line, ascertain, visually, the information that will be carried by a slug cast from the casting edges of those matrices.

After matrices have been assembled in a line in this manner, they may be moved, as a group or unit, in an assembly elevator to a position at one end of a delivery channel element, with the assembled matrices in endwise alignment with the channel in said channel element, and then the assembled line is moved through said channel into a casting elevator where it is carried into casting position.

A slug is then cast from the casting edges of the assembled matrices. Following the casting of the slug, the assembled line is carried by an elevator to a distributor, and then separated and selectively discharged by this distributor into the respective chambers or pockets of the magazine ready for reuse. It is necessary to provide for some lubrication of the guides through which the matrices move, and after continued use of the matrices for some time, the reference edges become soiled with a film, such as of oil and dirt or an oxide, which makes it difiicult to read the reference indicia on the reference edges when they are assembled in the inspection position adjacent the keyboard. Heretofore it has been necessary at times to remove the matrices from the machine entirely, and clean them, which requires consid- 2 erable effort, andi-nterrupts operation of the machine.

An objectof this invention is to-provide an improvement-for cleaning the reference edges-of the matrices during use, 4 without interrupting the operation ofthe machine in anyway; withtwh-i'ch the cleaning willo'ccur while the machine is-in operation and will be automatic in action; with which the cleaning may be made effective ornot as desired; which willnot require substantial alterations A in -existing machines which will not greatly increase the cost of suchmachines; and which will berel'ativel y simple, convenient and practical.

Another objectof 'the inventionis 1 to provide an improvement in-line casting machines; with which the reference sidesor the matrices may be cleaned inasimple and practical manner while the machine is in operation; and-which may be applied" as an attachment to'- existing machines with-a minimum of changes therein,

Another object-or theinvention is to provide an improved methccl of cleaning and renewing the reference-edgesof" the matrices without re-. quiring their remdval from the-machine.

Various other objects and-advantages will-be apparent from-the following description of one embodiment of the invention, and the novel features will be=particul-arly pointed out hereinafter in: connection withthe appended claims.

In the accompanyingdrawing:

Fig; 1 is=a front'elevation of thedelivery channel element commonly found inexisting line casting machines and through whichassembledlines of matrices move fromthe assembly elevator, in their travel towards the slug casting position, and having attache'dt thereto a wiper constructed in accordance with. this invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse, sectional elevation of the same, the sectionbeing taken approximately along the line: 2 -2 of Fig.1;

Fig.3 isv a. sectionalplan of a portion of the same, the sectionbeing taken approximately along the line 3--3' of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 15a face elevation of one of the atrices; and

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the reference edge thereof.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, and referring fi'rst.particularlyitoFigs, 4 and 5, each of the matrices lll has one edge. H slightly recessed an intermediate portion, so as toprovide guide lugs l2 and i3 at. the corners of that edge. In therecessed-edge lil is provided a reference indicia M whieh indicates: the identity of 3 the indicia that will be formed in a slug that is cast from the opposite or casting edge I5 of the matrix.

The edge I5 is formed similarly to the edge II so as to provide corner guiding lugs I6 and I1, and in the edge I5 are one or more recesses I8. In the bottom walls of recesses I8 are grooves representing a letter, number or indicia in which type projections may be cast, as usual in line casting machines. These matrices have, in the upper end thereof, a generally V-shaped notch I9 with selectively arranged teeth by which the matrices may be sorted and classified automatically, and deposited in the different pockets or chambers of the magazine after use. These matrices are very common, and no changes are made therein with this improvement.

The matrices are selectively released from their respective pockets of a magazine by selective operations of a keyboard in a manner Well known in this art, and after assembly into a line, are elevated into a position shown at A in Fig. 1, it being understood that only a few of such matrices are shown at A, whereas a complete line for a page is commonly set up and assembled as a unit, before its movement into the position A. This assembled unit is then moved from the position A to the left, through a channel 2|, see Fig. 2, formed in a channel element 22. This channel element has a face of somewhat triangular shape, as shown in Fig, l, and the channel groove 2I extends horizontally across the element 22 from the right-hand side edge to the left-hand side edge.

The assembled group of matrices in the position A are, of course, properly supported by a part of the machine which has been omitted in order that the assembled matrices may be shown at A, and at the proper time, this assembled line is moved through the groove 2I of the delivery channel element 22 from the right-hand side edge to the left-hand side edge, as a part of the travel of the assembled line to the casting elevator by which the line is carried down into a casting position where the slug is cast.

The channel element 22 includes a front frame member 23 and a rear frame member 24. The front frame member has a removable channel guide 25, and the rear frame member has a removable guide 26. These guide members or plates 25 and 26 have grooves which receive the corner lugs I2, I3, I6 and I! of the matrices of the assembled line, and serve to guide the assembled line in assembled relation in a direction endwise of the line. The construction so far described is common in the art.

A sleeve 2? is provided at one end with a laterally extending flange 28, which abuts against the front face of the front member 23 of the delivery channel element, and is secured thereto in any suitable manner such as by screws 29. The bore 30 of the sleeve, see Fig. 3, is cylindrical and extends entirely from end to end of the sleeve. The front plate member 23 and its guide plate 25, have therein passages 3| and 32 respectively of the same size as, and aligned with, the bore 30 of the sleeve, so that the passages 3| and 32 form a continuation of the bore 30 of the sleeve. Disposed within bore 30 is a cylindrical piston 33 which is free to reciprocate and rotate therein.

This piston 33, at its inner end, detachably carries a wiper 34 which may be a piece of leather, rubber, felt, cloth, or any other material which, by engagement against the reference edges II of the matrices ID, will remove or wipe therefrom the grease, dirt of film that obscures a proper reading of the indices I4. A rod 35 is threaded into the other or outer end of the piston 33, and secured against removal by a lock nut 36, and this rod 35 extends outwardly beyond the end of the sleeve 2'1. A cup-shaped cap 31 is threaded upon the free end of the sleeve 21, and has a bore 38 in its end face, through which the rod 35 loosely slides as the piston 33 moves endwise in the sleeve. A helical compression spring 39 is disposed in the bore 30 of the sleeve under compression between the inner end face of the cap 3'! and the outer end face of the piston 33. This spring 39 urges the piston or member 33 inwardly or toward the line of matrices which move through the delivery channel element.

Disposed on the outer end of the rod 35 is a nut 46 which is threaded on the rod so as to form an adjustable abutment which, by engagement with the outer end face of the cap 31, limits the movement of the piston 33 under the action of the spring 39. The nut 40 may be secured against unintentional movement by a lock nut 4i also threaded on the rod 35 and engaging with the end face of the nut 40. The peripheries of the nuts 40 and 4| and of the cap 3'! may be knurled in order to provide for a good grip thereon, when one desires to rotate them.

One side wall of the sleeve 21 is provided with a slot 42, see Figs. 2 and 3, which extends from the free or outer end edge of the sleeve towards the opposite end of the sleeve for a substantial distance beyond the cap 31. A pin 43 is secured to the piston 33, so as to extend laterally therefrom through the slot 42, and this pin 43 may have a head on its outer end to serve as a handle. The pin 43 slides freely along the slot 42 as the piston 33 is reciprocated, and provides a convenient handle by which the piston 33 may be retracted to remove the wiper 34 from engagement with the matrices II] that are moving through the channel element any time.

The slot 42, intermediate of its ends, is provided with a laterally extending branch 44, see Fig. 2, into which the pin 43 may be moved by rotation of the piston 33 after the piston has first been retracted until pin 43 is aligned with the entrance to the lateral branch 44. When the pin 43 engages in this lateral branch 44, it will hold the piston 33 retracted with the wiper 34 out of engagement with any matrices I0 that are in the channel element at that time.

In use, the sleeve is assembled on the front member 23 of the channel element 22. With the pin 43 in the straight part of the slot 42, the spring 39 urges the piston 33 endwise to the extent permitted by the engagement of nut 4|] with the cap 31, which places the wiper 34 in a position to wipe the reference edges I I of any matrices that may be moving, as an assembled line unit, through the channel element 22. By properly adjusting the nut 40, the wiper 34 will provide just the desired wiping action without obstructing movement of the matrices through this channel element 22. Since the matrices pass through the magazine pockets in the order in which they are used, all of the matrices in any magazine pocket or compartment will pass through the channel element during use, and during such movement, the reference edges are wiped clean without any attention by the operator, and without interfering in an way with the usual operations of this type of machine.

After the reference edges of the matrices have been cleaned, the operator merly grasps the pin 43, moves it endwise to retract the wiper from the path of the matrices until the pin 43 is aligned with the lateral branch 44 of the slit, and then by turning the pin 43la'terally of the slot 42, it will enter the lateral branch slot 44. Then when the pin 431s released, it will remain retracted with the spring 39 stressed, but with the wiper 3 2 out of wiping engagement withany matrices that may pass through this channel element 22. Thus when the operator observes that the reference edges of the matrices are getting dirty, so that the indicia l4 thereon cannot be readily read when assembled, the attendant merely rocks the pin 43 back into the straight part 32 and releases it, whereupon the spring 39 returns the wiper 34 to Wiping position. As the wiper wears, adjustment of the nut 40 will allow further projection of the wiper toward the path of the matrices until it again properly wipes the passing line of matrices.

While this wiper may be disposed to engage with the reference edges of the matrices at any point of their travel in the cycle from the magazine back to the magazine, this delivery channel 22 provides the most convenient mounting for the wiper without requiring material changes in existing machines. The action is automatic and may be rendered effective or ineffective as desired, and by removing the cap 31, the piston, with its wiper, may be completely removed from the sleeve for replacement of the wiper 34, whenever necessary.

The wiper may carry a pigment or colorin material that enters the depressions in the edges of the matrices that represent the indicia, so as to provide a color contrast between the filled indicia depressions and the wiped flat edge portions of the matrices.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention, as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a line casting machine in which type matrices from a magazine are selectively assembled in a line by selective operation of a keyboard, then moved as an assembled unit to casting position where a printing slug is cast of said line, and the matrices then returned to the magazine, that improvement which comprises a sleeve secured to said machine along the path. of travel of said unit of matrices, a member mounted in said sleeve for endwise movement in a direction crosswise of the path of travel of said unit at a zone where the unit is moving in a direction endwise of the line, a spring yieldingly urging said member towards said moving line, a wiper carried by an end of said member in a position to wipe the reference sides of the passing matrices in the line, during the travel of the line past the end of said member, an abutment limiting the extent of movement of said member towards wiping position to prevent it and the wiper from entering the space between units and obstructing travel of said unit, said sleeve having a slot in a wall thereof and extending in the direction of movement of said member therein, and a pin extending laterally from said member through said slot and moving along said slot as said member moves into and out of wiping position, said slot having a lateral branch, spaced at a substantial distance from the inner end of the slot,

into saidzpin may be moved by rotation ofsaid member in said sle'ev e, after said member has been moved endwise out of 'w-ipin'g position.

2. In a line casting machine" in which type matrices classified in' amagazine: are selectively assembled-'a lineby'operaticn of a keyboard, elevated, moved in a direction endwise of the line through a delivery" channelelement to casting mechanism, used to cast a slug, and then reclassified and returned to the magazine,. that improvement which comprises a sleeve secured at one end to said channel element, said channel element having a passage between the bore of said sleeve and the channel in which the matrices move, a piston disposed in the bore of said sleeve for endwise movement therein, the inner end of said piston carrying a wiper passing through said passage in said channel element into a position to wipe the reference sides of the matrices in the zones thereof carrying reference indicia, as the assembled line of matrices moves endwise of the line through said channel element, a cap detachably secured to the outer end of said sleeve, a spring interposed between the inside face of said cap and said piston and urging said piston towards said channel element, said sleeve having a slot extending from its free end in an endwise direction for a substantial distance away from said cap, and a pin carried by said piston, extending laterally therefrom through said slot and sliding along said slot as said piston moves endwise in said sleeve, said slot having a lateral extension intermediate of its ends into which said pin may be moved by rotation of the piston after the piston has been retracted from wiping position, whereby the piston may be releasably latched in non-wiping position.

3. In a line casting machine in which type matrices classified in a magazine are selectively assembled in a line by operation of a keyboard, elevated, moved in a direction endwise of the line through a delivery channel element to casting mechanism, used to cast a slug, and then reclassified and returned to the magazine, that improvement which comprises a sleeve secured at one end to said channel element, said channel element having a passage between the bore of said sleeve and the channel in which the matrices move, a piston disposed in the bore of said sleeve for endwise movement therein, the inner end of said piston carrying a wiper passing through said passage in said channel element into a position to wipe the reference sides of the matrices in the zones thereof carrying reference indicia, as the assembled line of matrices moves endwise of the line through said channel element, a cap detachably secured to the outer end of said sleeve, a spring interposed between the inside face of said cap and said piston and urging said piston towards said channel element, said sleeve having a slot extending from its free end in an endwise direction for a substantial distance away from said cap, a pin carried by said piston, extending laterally therefrom through said slot and sliding along said slot as said piston moves endwise in said sleeve, said slot having a lateral extension intermediate of its ends into which said pin may be moved by rotation of the piston after the piston has been retracted from wiping position, whereby the piston may be releasably latched in non-wiping position, a rod carried by said piston and extending slidingly through said cap for reciprocation therethrough, and a nut threaded on said rod so as to engage the outer face of said cap and limit the movement of said.

piston toward wiping position to an extent depending upon the adjustment of said nut along said rod, whereby the piston may be stopped in a position in which its wiper will] wipe the matrices without obstructing their movement.

JOHN F. GUNDERMAN, SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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